The Business Champions for Southeast Asia: Australia’s ten business leaders
Jennifer Westacott
Shayne Elliott
Shemara Wikramanayake
Louise Adams
Tony Lombardo
Charles Olsson
Peter Fox
John George
Sakib Awan
Nur Rahman
In September 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 , a report to the Australian Government by the Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, Nicholas Moore AO. Invested is a practical roadmap to increase Australia’s two- way trade and investment with Southeast Asia. It includes a recommendation – now actioned – to appoint private sector business champions, one for each market covered in the report. The business champions will be responsible for promoting Southeast Asian trade and investment opportunities to Australian businesses and investors. This commitment recognises the importance of strong business-to-business engagement as a key tool to increasing trade and investment with Southeast Asia. Business champions will play a valuable advocacy and mentoring role, providing insights, advice and connections to help Australian businesses succeed in Southeast Asia. Business champions will leverage their experience and influence to represent the views of the business community to Australian and Southeast Asian governments on actions our governments can take to deepen economic engagement. More information on the Business
Indonesia: Professor Jennifer Westacott AO Jennifer Westacott is the Chancellor of Western Sydney University (WSU), the first woman to serve in the role. Professor Westacott also served as Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, the nation’s premier business organisation, from 2011 to 2023. She is well versed in the Australia-Southeast Asia trade relationship and the importance of fostering trade and investment collaboration with the region.
The Philippines: Ms Shemara Wikramanayake
Malaysia: Mr Tony Lombardo Tony Lombardo has been the Global Chief Executive Director and Managing Director of Lendlease Global since 2021, a company providing asset management, infrastructure development, investment management and legal services. In his previous role as a Chief Executive Officer Asia, based in Singapore, he spearheaded several major initiatives to drive future growth as part of resetting Lendlease Asia’s growth strategy. These initiatives include the completion of Singapore’s S$3.7 billion Paya Lebar Quarter mixed-use development and the successful listing of S$1 billion global LREIT on the Singapore Exchange.
Thailand: Mr Peter Fox
Timor-Leste: Mr Sakib Awan Sakib Awan is the Founder and Chairman of the East Timor Trading Group (ETT), one of Timor-Leste’s largest independent retailers, franchise operators and distributors. In 2012, ETT brought Gloria Jean’s Coffees and Burger King franchises to Timor-Leste. EET has also established a chain of Cheers Bottle Shops, Makanan and Il Gelato outlets. He was awarded the Order of Timor-Leste by the President that same year. Brunei: Dr Nur Rahman Nur Rahman has been the Chief Executive Officer of Brunei’s state-owned halal food business, Ghanim International Corporation, since 2015. He has broad experience working in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail and manufacturing, and previously held senior executive positions for Australian organisations such as Woolworths, Goodman Fielder and Cargill Foods. Ghanim is ambitiously setting its sights on the global stage to gain solid footing in for Brunei Halal Foods products by covering important markets in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Through Ghanim, Dr Rahman aspires to raise Brunei’s name in the global food industry. He is now undertaking agrifood consulting work out of Sydney and maintains excellent networks in Brunei.
Peter Fox is the Executive Chairman of Linfox Pty Ltd, Linfox Australia Pty Ltd, Linfox International Group Pty Ltd and Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd. Linfox leads the way as Asia Pacific’s largest privately-owned logistics company, involving more than 24,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Linfox provides logistic services to a variety of the world’s largest and most successful organisations by delivering food, resources and medicine across road and rail from an extensive network of warehouses and distribution centres. Linfox also operates in Southeast Asia with an international head office in Thailand supporting partners from 12 sites since 1993. Cambodia: Mr John George OAM John George is the Executive Chairman and founder of MGA Insurance Brokers, regarded as one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages. In 2012, he was awarded a Special Medal by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for his work as Chairman of the Australian Cambodia Foundation and his charity work. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2013 for his service to the welfare of children in Cambodia.
Shemara Wikramanayake has been the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Macquarie Group since 2018, being the organisation’s first female to serve in such a role. Joining Macquarie in 1987, she has worked in six countries and across several business lines, establishing and leading Macquarie’s corporate advisory offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and the infrastructure funds management business in the US and Canada.
Singapore: Mr Shayne Elliott
Vietnam: Ms Louise Adams
Shayne Elliott has been the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at ANZ since 2016. Mr Elliott has more than 30 years experience in banking including in Australia and overseas, in a variety of aspects of the industry. Prior to joining ANZ, Mr Elliott held senior executive roles at EFG Hermes, the largest investment bank in the Middle East, which included Chief Operating Officer. He started his career with Citibank New Zealand and worked with Citibank and Citigroup for 20 years, holding various senior positions across the UK, USA, Egypt, Australia and Hong Kong.
Louise Adams became the first female Executive Director on Aurecon’s Global Board in 2013. Aurecon is a design, engineering and advisory company working with clients across different sectors and markets. She is Aurecon’s global spokesperson for Women in Leadership and a member of the National Advisory Board of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. Ms Adams has also been an Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy Business Champion. In previous roles, she led major civil and multidisciplinary projects in more than a dozen countries.
Laos: Mr Charles Olsson
Charles Olsson is the Managing Director of Four Seasons Pty Ltd, a national livestock supplement company supplying 400 rural retailers throughout Australia and exporting to New Zealand and Southeast Asia. He is also the Executive Chairman and co-founder of AgCoTech, a company producing medicated block technology that increases cattle productivity and improves welfare, while reducing methane emissions. AgCoTech’s operational plant in Laos produces these livestock supplements for local villagers providing capital investment and employment opportunities. Mr Olsson has extensive experience in Australian agribusiness and held multiple influential roles in the sector, including directorships at Australian Wool Innovation and Woolmark.
Champions can be found at aseanaustralia.pmc.gov.au
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business envoy
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
business envoy
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